Fendt Technology Boosting Yields at Crown Point Estate in Norfolk
Making best use of field data for planning crop establishment and field operations is helping a large Norfolk estate optimise results from a wide range of soils.
Crown Point Estate, at Kirby Bedon south-east of Norwich, produces approximately 1,200ha of arable crops. An AHDB monitor farm, its cropping includes winter wheat, forage rye, sugar beet, AD and grain maize, and vining peas. There are also small areas of mustard and mint – (the estate is owned by the Colman family), and potatoes are grown within the rotation on land rented to a local producer.
“In the past three years, we’ve improved yields by an average 14%,” explained Farm Manager, Michael Balls. “Using variable rate seeding and fertiliser application techniques in conjunction with SOYL helps us achieve uniform crops which are easier to manage. We had the fields scanned, and where areas have lower potential then we gear inputs to predicted yields. Elsewhere, if areas aren’t achieving full potential then we identify what’s needed to improve results. We no longer use a blanket approach and that is paying off.”
Moved to TNS and Fendt
Optimising working efficiency is a priority. The farm moved from competitor brand tractors to Fendt three years ago and relies on the Fendt Trimble precision farming technology with advice and back-up from the Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS) team. Three Fendt tractors include a 942 Vario, an 828 Vario and a 516 Vario, and a fourth AGCO brand tractor was also supplied by the dealer.
Currently, data is sent to and from the tractors on USB sticks, but upgrades early next year will allow wireless data transmission through Fendt’s Task Doc Pro. “The current system works well, but there is always the risk that a problem could occur when I’m away from the farm, or that I forget to include instructions for one or more fields. Being able to communicate remotely through Fendt Connect will allow me to check instructions and make changes without travelling to the machine. It will save me time and avoid machine downtime.”
The farm uses an RTK signal provided by the TNS network. One tractor obtains the signal from a fixed mast and the others utilise a sim card-based signal. “The sim card signal seems more reliable so all the tractors will use the same signal source in future,” Michael added.
The Fendt 828 Vario and 942 Vario are the top Profi+ specification and the 516 Vario is the mid-range Power+ model. The 942 Vario and 516 Vario both have the latest FendtONE controls and operating concept, while the 828 Vario has Fendt’s previous generation cab equipment. Both systems are popular with operators, but the FendtONE cab is preferred.
“One of the issues carried over from our previous brand tractors was that we had different guidance lines for different jobs,” Michael continued. “We transferred these to the Fendts but are currently working on new field maps sharing common field boundaries. The main objective is to work more efficiently, improve accuracy and save time, but it also ties in well with our environmental activities and SFI schemes, and will allow us to reset headland boundaries for wildlife areas, then share them instantly across the fleet.”
Irregular shaped fields
The estate includes many irregular shaped fields with natural and man-made obstructions. For these, Fendt Section Control offers significant advantages for spraying, fertiliser applications and precision drilling of maize and sugar beet. “We use a Kverneland precision drill with individual control of each seeding unit, and this allows us to drill in the most convenient direction, even if the rows end at a diagonal headland. One field is so awkward that we start from two different headlands and meet in the middle, and the drill automatically matches the bouts and places the seeds avoiding misses and double planting. The results are perfect and while there are no unplanted areas, there is no need to hoe out excess plants either. Operating behind the lighter Fendt 516 Vario tractor, there is no mess, and it achieves excellent results.
“For spraying and fertiliser applications, avoiding over-spray and overlaps at the field boundaries saves a surprising amount of product so we also achieve significant financial savings just by reducing wastage. It’s better for the environment too,” Michael added.
No tramlines
Relying on GPS guidance means the farm no longer creates tramlines for cereals or sugar beet when drilling. “It’s helping us avoid making ruts, and there is the option for spray and fertiliser applications to be made at any angle to the crop. This is an advantage when there is a row of telegraph poles, for example, as the wide sprayer can align with them to reduce the number of bouts with obstructions.”
More accurate, less tiring
For the tractor operators, the Fendt precision farming onboard systems help optimise results while reducing fatigue. “Working in conjunction with the Vaderstad drill, the outer sections of the 6m Grange toolbar have to be folded in for headland turns to prevent contact,” explained Fendt operator, Tom Wilson. “Fendt Turn Assistant allows me to set up a headland turn sequence which automatically lifts the toolbar out of work, folds it then stops the drill, carries out the turn and then recommences operation again when the turn is complete. On the Fendt, that sort of thing is simple to set up although I found it easiest to tweak the settings during several turns until they were perfect. Now I can focus on the task at each headland, instead of trying to do everything quickly in the right order.”
Fendt Guide Contour Assistant enables curved guidance lines to be created. “Once the first pass around the headland is complete, the autosteer will automatically follow a curved path matching previous bouts,” Tom continued. “This year, with particularly high trash volumes on the headlands the drill blocked occasionally, but the Fendt guidance and autosteer allowed me to watch the drill instead of having to navigate and steer all the time. It made a real difference.”
Realtime results
The Vaderstad drill is controlled through an iPad linked by Isobus to the tractor’s Trimble display. “TNS AGCO Technologies Specialist, Kris Clarke and his colleagues helped set it up initially, and it has proved completely reliable,” confirmed Tom. “One feature I really like is that I can visualise the intended drilling rates on the Trimble display in real-time, while the actual rate is shown on the iPad. It’s reassuring as I can constantly check that it is correct, and the completed task data is recorded and available to access at any time.”
Involving the team
To obtain maximum benefit from the precision farming technology, efficient back-up from the TNS team is essential, stressed Michael. “Whether the issue is GPS or software related, Kris is our first point of contact. However, even if he isn’t available then other members of the dealer’s specialist AGCO Technologies team find solutions quickly.
“Since we started utilising variable rates in conjunction with SOYL the TNS team has been involved, learning with me initially and then helping train our operators so that we all know what we are aiming for and what to expect. Everyone is on board.”
Support always available
Michael stated that one of the advantages dealing with TNS is that the precision farming specialist team has increased in size to keep up with use of the technology. “For us, it’s all about relationships; Kris and his colleagues have backgrounds operating tractors, so they understand what we need and why. Working with TNS is making our lives easier while also improving accuracy, results and farm record keeping, and the Fendt package is more cost-effective than our previous brand too.”
Strategic
Although investment in systems including section control and variable rate applications could be justified purely to save money, for Crown Point Estate it’s more strategic than that. “Recording every task including details such as whether straw was incorporated or removed will help us optimise our management of each individual field,” Michael confirmed. “Detailed records including locations, fuel used, and time taken will also help us accurately cost our own activities as well as contracting jobs. Through the Fendt and Trimble systems we will gain increasing amounts of data to check that what we are doing is correct.
“Lots more data will be generated, but it’s just a case of targeting what we need.”
